ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 3: THE DRAGON'S KEEPER
Chapter Seven

The clanging of china brought Maya sweet memories as she watched the elderly woman shuffle around with a silver tray in her hand. She hummed to herself as Maya settled cosily on one of the plush floral sofas. The television buzzed and was showing a black and white movie. The elderly woman reached for a silver tea spoon and turned her head slightly to her side. She had a long grey and white braid down her hunched back. Though she was very old, she still had the strength to move around and do what she wanted to do best.

“How many sugars, dearie?” She asked, her voice warm and soothing like a balm over an open wound.

“Two, grandma Frida.” Maya arranged her hands on her lap and waited patiently. One thing grandma Frida never liked was being interrupted while she prepared something to eat. She always believed food made the soul fonder so it needed love and attention in making it. Also, she encouraged people not to eat when they were sad or upset because then they got sick.

Finally grandma Frida hefted the tray once more and approached Maya, the freshly baked cookies wafting with an aroma that made her mouth water. She placed the tray on the table between the two single sofas and settled down then sighed softly and smiled, the corners of her eyes and mouth crinkling in the process.

“I haven’t seen you in a while, dearie. I missed you.” She said softly and almost sadly. “It gets lonely sometimes and you and your parents hardly visit me any more.”

The last thing Maya wanted was to make the elderly woman complain but she couldn’t figure out the reason why she wouldn’t visit her grandmother often. She remembered being so close to her when she was younger. She was her favourite and whenever Maya was sick, her grandma sent her a basket of goodies to make sure she was well taken care of. She was quite a rich woman and so Maya’s uncles, aunties and cousins didn’t like the nearness that she had to her. They thought she was doing that because of the old woman’s money. “I’m so sorry, grandma Frida but life has been a little hectic--but I am here now.”

Grandma Frida nodded and cast her eyes down then muttered. “Let’s enjoy this short time that we have then--” She turned to her and frowned. “Where is the pendant I gave you? My ruby red teardrop on the fiery terrain?” She asked.

Maya touched her chest and gasped in surprise. The little burn mark had returned. “I must have lost it, grandma Frida but I promise I will replace it.”

Grandma Frida nodded lightly and reached for Maya’s hand. “That stone has been passed on through the generations of our family and it chooses it next owner, just like the way it chose me, the last born to the Carter family. Out of all your aunties, your uncles and your cousins, it chose you and it is for a good reason.” Grandma Frida reached forward and traced the burn mark on her chest. It tingled. “It disappears but it is never lost. It always comes back when you need it most.”

Maya nodded as her grandmother handed her a tea cup. She smiled and took a sip and before she could even place it back on the table her eyes felt heavy and the cup tipped over spilling its contents on the carpet.

“Grandma Frida?” She asked, stunned that her grandmother would put something in her cup.

“Hush now, dearie. Rest a little and when you wake up all will be well.” Grandma Frida got up from her chair and arranged Maya on her chair then went back to her seat and took her cup of tea. She began humming that familiar tune again as her eyes turned to the television before her.

Maya felt tears coming down her eyes because her entire body was paralysed and she couldn’t even scream for help. Only her eyes were able to move around the small room. Suddenly the room started falling away, walls splintering with loud crackling sounds. The strange thing was, although this havoc was happening around them, her grandmother was still watching the TV and humming to herself.

Grandma! Maya scream inwardly. Run, grandma Frida, run!

The entire room was ripped apart and a large jagged shadow with red fiery eyes loomed over them. The shadow moved forward until the television light highlighted the beast to Maya. The ruby red-scaled dragon brought his muzzle forward until it was just a breath away from her face. Its eyes were menacing but very intelligent.

A gale began to pick up around her and she didn’t know what it was until she saw the large wings beating hard above the dragon. It took off, disappearing into the darkness and Maya thought it was gone until, she heard the beating of wings coming closer and closer to her. Her eyes widened as she realized the beast was coming straight at her. She screamed as loud as she could as the dragon disintegrated and became a fireball then went right into her, the fire singeing every part of her body all the way to her bones.

A scream tore long and hard from Maya and she was very sure that she damaged her vocal chords but she was suddenly pulled into warm arms holding her tightly and cooing her to calming down. She felt hot tears come down her face and blindly raised her hands and held on to that one person that was keeping her from losing her mind. She felt the warm skin around the neck and the way the cool hair was tickling her hands and cheek.

“For how long is this going to continue?” She heard the muffling voice asking.

“I don’t know.” A woman’s voice full of worry answered. “I have never seen anything like this before. I don’t even know what to heal.”

“You better replace a way to end her torment, Akira!” A growl escaped from Drake.

A smile played on Maya’s lips. Drake was there with her. She sighed softly and cuddled deeper into the protective arms, breathing him in and feeling him all around her before she drifted back to sleep.

Drake looked down at the now calm female in his arms. He didn’t know for how long he had been there and he didn’t care. Ever since that morning when Maya touched his arm, she had been going through possible seizures muttering the same sentence over and over again; ruby red teardrop on the fiery terrain. Drake had no idea what it meant but he was terrified at the way Maya’s body violently bucked from the ground. With the help of Red, he was able to rush her to the infirmary but it’s been a while and Akira could not replace the source of the problem. Even Red couldn’t understand what was happening but he believed something was not right with her.

Keeper, your energy is waning. Red purred.

Drake had not eaten anything since that morning and now, the skies were already painted with the red and orange hues of dusk. I can’t leave her like this.

She is in good hands. You also need to take care of us--or should I take the duty to see to our welfare? When Red said that, it meant taking over and flying him into the woods where he would hunt and gorge on his prey until he was satisfied.

Don’t even think about it. Drake felt Red’s dark smile as he placed the female back on her bed, gritting his teeth against the severed contact. Even she frowned at the loss of his warmth.

“I’ll return as soon as I can.”

Akira looked up from the orbs of energy in her palms then nodded. “I’ll try and calm her a bit more. Maybe she’ll wake up and tell us what is happening.”

Drake sighed. “Alright.” He turned to the door and walked out.

As he made his way through the house towards the kitchen, he met the distressed Abigail. She looked very tired with the halo of her auburn hair framing her face making her look so fragile. When she saw him, her lips trembled into a smile as she tried to straighten up. Drake had not gone down to see how Herman was doing but the howls had tampered down a bit.

“Commander.” She inclined her head to him and staggered slightly.

Drake’s hands shot forward and he held her up. “Abigail, you need to go and rest. This will not help Herman through his transformation.”

She nodded softly. “I know but I can’t help worrying over him. He is the only pure blood male remaining in the family. He is the only thing I have to remind me of the husband and the brothers I have lost in the battlefield.”

Drake squeezed her shoulders lightly. “Herman has a strong will to live. I have seen it in him during practice and I know he is doing his best through the change. Now, I want--no, I command you to go and get some rest. I’ll go and watch over him.”

“Thank you, commander.” Abigail bobbed clumsily and bee-lined her way towards her chambers while Drake made his way to the kitchen. He had a quick sandwich before he finally made it to where Herman was.

Pained grunts greeted him at the door with Vicious, Klark and Nicholette--a female centaur--taking shifts in wearing out a path down the hallway carpet. When they saw him, they jumped to their feet and inclined their heads. Drake dismissed them and then saw the female who had caused havoc just the other day sitting with her sister in law; Sophia.

Sophia was Tegan’s human mate. She was on the slender side with gold locks falling down her shoulders and back. Her skin reminded him of cream and pinks roses. She had large blue eyes that settled on him in surprise. As she turned to listen to what her sister-in-law was saying, Drake noticed the tattoo running from the base of her ear, down her neck and disappearing in her turquoise blouse. Drake frowned. She didn’t look like the type to sit down and have that thing inked on her.

Tegan had several tattoos on his skin too . Maybe somehow he managed to convince her to get one.

“How is the foal getting along?” Drake tore his eyes from the two females and turned to Vicious.

As if in cue, a guttural roar echoed from the room.

“Not so good.” Vicious rubbed his forehead. “He is fighting the pain too much and hence he is fighting the transformation.

Drake winced remembering his own transformation. Every part of his body burnt and raged with so much pain that he constantly lost consciousness and they had to shock him back with cold water. He watched as his baby skin burnt right off his body and his new dragon skin grow in its place. Claws, slashed through his human nails his skull and bones re-arranging so that he could accommodate the change. Drake shifted nervously on his feet.

“What about Tegan and Feror?”

Vicious smirked. “Never seen them better!”

Drake nodded. “I’ll go in.”

Vicious cringed. “Are you sure you want to see this? It’s not pretty like yours, commander.”

Drake eyed the centaurs in front of him and said. “I have seen worse.”

Vicious lifted his hands up in surrender and stepped aside.

Drake opened the door and he was greeted by the foul smell of extracted stomach contents, sweat, blood and other things he didn’t even want to begin imagining. His eyes scanned the room and his face leached of all colour. Tegan, Feror, Remington and another centaur Drake had never seen before had all tore away their shirts and were sweating, their hair slick and their skins glistening. Drake noticed that the other centaur also had the Brotherhood mark on his back like Tegan and Feror. Herman was right in the middle of the room and it looked like he had passed out. He was completely naked lying on a puddle of water. His hands and feet were bleeding and he looked paler and sicker than ever before but Drake noticed something different. The young male was already packing muscles around his once lanky body. They twitched and rippled around him and from a distance he could hear the popping of bone. To his utter mortification it was his spine that was making the sounds, the bone visibly elongating and relocating under his skin.

Drake tasted the bitter bile in his mouth. This was fucked up!

“Hold him up!” Tegan roared to Feror and Remington as he reached for another pale of water.

The males each picked up an arm and held Herman up. Tegan splashed the water onto Herman and his body bucked backwards as his arched his head up and roared with all his might.

Even his voice had changed, Drake noticed as he struggled to stand up straight but his legs wouldn’t have it, his knees red and swollen. Feror and Remington let him loose and he dropped on a crouch, his head down, his breathing so loud that it echoed in the room.

The popping continued down his back but he gritted his teeth and just let out a grunt.

All the males were tired but they were not going to stop until Herman was out of danger. Finally, they acknowledged his presence when finally Herman’s bone-popping at somehow reduced. They inclined their heads to him, their breaths ragged and their faces strained.

“How long do you think this might go on?” Drake finally found his voice and asked.

Tegan’s severe eyes turned to the hunching male in from of him. “I have seen quite a good number of foal transformations to know that we have at least another day or so of this. The male has good blood--he reminds me so much of Feror.”

Drake’s eyes strayed to his friend and Feror’s jaws were clenched tightly as he looked at Tegan. There was regret and sorrow in his eyes. Feror had never had that look before so Drake was very positive that the bound between Tegan and Feror went beyond brothers.

“I have good blood too.” Remington teased.

Feror snorted and turned to him. “You took five days to go through your transformation, half-breed. I heard Tegan took forty-eight hours.”

“Forty-six.” Tegan smirked. “It would have been less if it weren’t for the alcohol coursing through my body.” he grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.

“How you went through that change was beyond me.” The other centaur shook his head. “This dirty foal started going through the change with his dick rammed in some female and enough alcohol in his body to knock out a royal blood!”

“We centaurs are good like that, Magnus.” The two males high-fived then Tegan turned to Drake. “Magnus arrived this morning from the Highlands. He is the Brotherhood healer.”

Drake nodded and sighed. “Are there any more surprises with the transformation?”

Tegan’s face turned grim and he nodded. “His first shift. It usually comes unexpected.”

Drake approached the hunching boy and crouched close to him. “Hang in there, warrior. Your mother is waiting for you.”

Herman lifted his head and Drake couldn’t believe it when the foal managed to pull off a grin. Drake chuckled and shook his head then got up. “I need to get to other things.”

“I’ll see you later.” Feror saluted.

Drake expelled a heavy breath when he stepped out of the room. He wondered how the Lord Mage was able to deal with things like this happening simultaneously. He needed to figure out a way forward without any more incidents and just when he thought he had gained new motivation to move forward the grim faced Lord Mage suddenly flashed right in front of him.

Drake took a step back just as everyone else around him was propelled to get up and bow or bob.

The Lord Mage’s body was humming with energy, his eyes alternating between silver and white hot. The only times he did that was when he was raging mad.

“Fancy seeing you here.” Drake teased although he knew he was testing just how deep the waters went.

A growl escaped Lord Mage’s lips. “I am not here to exchange pleasantries, Drake.”

Drake sighed and fought the urge to roll his eyes. “As you can see, I am a very busy male at the moment. I have a horde of dragons smuggling heavens-knows what at the mines, a centaur going through his first transformation, my second in command and his mentor who want to rip each other’s head off not to mention a human female suffering from amnesia and a case of seizures, what else do want to squeeze in that list for me?”

Without a heads up, a grin appeared on the Lord Mage’s face. “Leadership is a bitch.”

“And a raging one at that.”

Lord Mage straightened and said. “Let’s step into the office for a moment.”

Drake nodded and the two males walked towards the office.

“What is this I hear about rogue dragons at the mines?” Tyran asked once they were in the office.

Drake sighed and settled on the chair. He was tired exhausted in body and in mind. “Feror did some scouting there and discovered some illegal activities going on. A few days ago we went to ask around and came across a Shifter named Marco. He swore he knew nothing but with Feror’s persuasion, he stated that there were rogue dragons hiding there. I sent a team to go and confirm it before we take any actions.”

“What do you think?” Tyran asked.

“I think there is something there that is off. Remington and Shancy picked it up. They said it was something dark but cloaked.”

The Lord Mage nodded darkly. “Could it be the same thing that Olena had used to cloak herself.”

Anger seethed through Drake as he recalled the dragon female traitor that paid in blood for her treachery. She was angry because apparently she was exiled when her family was found to have close ties with Kruk and his pack but that did not give her the reason to betray everyone like the way she did. “It could be but we will learn of it soon.”

Lord Made breathed in hard and frowned. “Just when you think you have moved forward, shit like this happens.”

“Zach told me about Ron’s message.”

“I am really considering if the Fae is a lying snake or not. The Dark Energy has changed him so much I wonder if he has any humanity left in him.”

“I think he is lying. Kruk died in that mountain right in front of us.” Drake assured him.

“But he had a large number of followers back then, not to mention the ones that escaped into the Human Realm with the Scarlet Shield.” Tyran pointed out.

“I refuse to believe that any of those males have anything to do with this. They saw the hell we brought on them, they would not want to cross us again if they valued their lives.”

Tyran frowned again. “Ever thought of how the rogues came to be in the first place? I doubt that Ron went into the Realm of Fire and asked them to align with him just like that. This rebel group must have existed, ready but waiting for a chance to make their move.”

Drake was quiet for a moment. Dragons were proud creatures and they would not blindly follow someone unless they saw a good thing coming out of it. Lord Mage was right, Ron could not have mobilized the pack to begin with. “Alright, fine. Let’s take it that they have a team leader that was once in Kruk’s pack, why aren’t they aiming at the Realm of Fire throne--because that was what started the war in the first place.”

“They believed that pure-blood Dragons were superior and thus needed to rule the Realm of Fire. The Dragons are the largest and strongest beasts in the enchanted world. If they were to take over the rule in the enchanted world, very few of us would stand a chance against them. What if they have seen an opportunity to do just that--using the Dark Energy?”

Drake gritted his teeth. “That is a fool’s quest!”

“For a dragon, you sure know how to discredit your abilities. It’s no wonder your father was disappointed in you. You have no solidarity bone in your body!”

“I will not condone the recklessness of a few bastards just because they are of my race!” Drake growled feeling Red prowl in his mind. “They slaughtered hundreds of innocents, burnt down homes and let blood run like rivers in the streets. Families were torn apart because of those fuckers and I should have solidarity for that?”

Tyran’s eyes narrowed at his second in command. “Why do I have a feeling we are no longer talking about the rogues but rather about your through and through bitter relationship with your father? You did not align with your father because he deserted you and your mother when you needed him the most. You rebelled against him. Would it have been a different story if he stood beside you despite your short-comes?”

Drake hated it when Tyran did the contemplating thing because he ended up creating scenarios that had the person question about their very soul! Drake, too, wondered if he would have turned out like his father if Kruk spent more time with him. He wondered if the male would still have been alive wrecking havoc across the Realms. Such thoughts sometimes kept him awake at night. He ran his hands in his fingers trying to rein his anger.

Are you in need of me, keeper? Red whispered.

Stay down, Red. Drake commanded.

“You could never be like your father, Drake.” Finally, the Lord Mage concluded sitting up forward. “You know why? I am the Mage of Light and I sense light in everyone; their purity and their pure intentions. I sensed that from you on the first day I met you but I sensed none in your father. Kruk would have never stopped craving for power until he destroyed himself in the process because he was an evil male. You are not.”

“I am my father’s son!” Drake looked up at Tyran, his eyes pleading to him that he was right and that Drake was just overreacting.

“You are also your mother’s son and she was a good female.” Tyran assured him. “What you need to concentrate on is what these rogues are doing in the mines and how they got access to them in the first place.”

Drake gave a small nod.

“But you’ll have to leave that to Feror. I need you back in Agore by the end of this week. Ron knows something and I need to replace out it was before I tear his head off.”

Drake’s mind drifted back to the female resting in the infirmary. “There is a human female in the premises that has amnesia and is staying here for the time being.”

Tyran’s eyebrows snapped up. “A human female? How did she get here?”

“She literally dropped from the skies.”

“Dragons? Sorcerers?”

Drake shook his head. “We believe she passed through a gateway.”

“There is no gateway in Tacinia.” Tyran stated.

Drake shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea how she got here and she, too, has no recollection of what happened.”

The Lord Mage was quiet for a moment then got up. “I want to see her.”

Now, it was Drake’s turn to have his eyebrows snap up in his forehead.

Maya felt as if someone had filled her eyes and throat with sea sand. She tried to swallow but her throat felt painful and swollen. She didn’t know for how long she had been out but when she managed to peel open her eyes, she discovered that it was dark outside and she was back in the infirmary.

Crap! She thought distastefully. She was thirsty but so tired that she couldn’t even turn her head to the side. She lifted her hand trying to look for the light switch but suddenly the room flooded with brightness that had her eyes watery. She cringed and tried to focus as two blurred bodies came forward.

“She’s the female?” One asked his voice sounding as if he was underwater.

“Yes, her name is Maya.”

Drake! Maya’s heart jerked in her chest.

“Drake?” She croaked blinking to try and focus. Drake moved forward from the other man and stepped closer to her. His scent and warmth filtered to her and brought her a measure of comfort and calmness.

“How are you feeling?” He looked down at her, concerned but relieved at the same time.

“I feeling like a swallowed a thousand cups of beach sand. My throat hurts so much.” She touched it lightly.

Drake touched her brow. “Your fever has gone down. You’ll be fine.”

“Can I have some water?” She asked.

Drake nodded and left her under the scrutiny of the remaining man. He was large and he looked deadly. His silver eyes slashed over her like a whip. There was something around him that made her push back in her bed. There was something familiar about him yet her mind couldn’t figure out where she had seen him. Maya’s fingers tangled themselves around the sheets as the man went around the bed and approached her. He was clad in black leather that made him all the more lethal.

When he got closer, her leaned forward and narrowed his eyes at her. They were almost nose to nose. Maya’s eyes widened and she swallowed visibly.

“Amnesia, huh?” He didn’t look convinced that she didn’t have her memory.

Maya had a patch work of memories in her head. She didn’t even know if some where just dreams or they were some things that she encountered. Grandma Frida; she was real. She was sure of it because there was some fondness she felt in her heart when she thought of her. Her friends Francesca and Gavin; those two were real too. She had scenes play in her head with the two of them. But then there was the red dragon; that was definitely a dream. Maybe it was because of Drake, she didn’t know?

A mewling sound escaped her lips. “Who are you?”

The man smirked and moved back then crossed his arms across his broad chest. “I am the Lord Mage.”

Maya knew that sentence was supposed to mean something big but it didn’t. “A king?” She asked.

She watched as his eyebrows shot up to his hairline.

Before he answered, Drake returned and placed the glass on the side table before helping her sit up, placing pillows on her back. He held up the glass on her lips.

“Drink,” He commanded.

Maya swallowed the cool water down her aching throat, all the while watching cautiously the male behind Drake. What was he? A dragon like Drake. A shiver went up her spine. She didn’t want to be caught dead in the same room as him.

Finally when Maya had had her fill, she pushed the glass away.

“You forgot to educate the immigrant about those above her.” The male glowered at Drake.

To Maya’s surprise, Drake chuckled and turned to him. “It’s not easy when she had no idea the enchanted world existed. She is still recovering the shock of seeing Red surfacing.”

The man grunted. “She needs to be sent back.”

Drake paled as he stood up straight. “That is a little difficult at the moment.”

Maya felt the need to jump in because Drake looked so nervous. “Once I get my memories back, I’ll be out of here before you even say the word. I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

“I love your enthusiasm to be rid of us. ” The man said.

“That can’t happen.” Drake answered again.

“Why not?′ The man straightened.

Drake turned to her and she saw regret and acceptance at the same time. “Because she is my mate.”

Maya blinked blankly at Drake because she tried to figure out what that word meant in that context because the last time she checked, being a mate meant she and Drake belonged together. “What does that mean?” She looked at both men and the Lord Mage had the expression of incredulity on his face.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!” He growled in surprise.